Hello Padraic,
I wanted to achieve navigation something like this website
http://www.onlinestoresinc.com/catalog/index.html so I have purchased the fancy categories.
Before I start building, since I stumbled across this thread and I very much value your opinion, can I ask why you are saying to NOT use FC?
Have looked at recommended xcartmods and they have some nice navigation mods but now I am a bit stumped.
Nothing new there!